A77983:216
Four books on the eleventh of Matthew
Four books on the eleventh of Matthew: viz: I. Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest. II. Christ the great teacher of souls that come to him. To which is added a treatise of meekness and of anger. III. Christ the humble teacher of those that come to him. IIII. The only easy way to heaven. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel at Stepney and Cripple-Gate, London.Four books on the eleventh of Matthew: viz: I. Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest. II. Christ the great teacher of souls that come to him. To which is added a treatise of meekness and of anger. III. Christ the humble teacher of those that come to him. IIII. The only easie way to heaven. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel at Stepny and Cripple-Gate, London.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Eleventhly: And again, Humility it is that that makes all Duties and all Afflictions to be easy, therefore this follows that I shall speak to afterwards, Learn of me and be lowly in heart, and then My Yoke is easy and my Burden is light, it is an easy thing for a man to do any thing that God sets him about if he be once humble, there is no difficulty that a man finds in the service of God but it is through pride of heart. And so there is an ease in all Afflictions in being humble, that that yields you know can bear opposition without any great noise, indeed the tall Cedars are broken with winds, but the poor shrubs below they do not suffer so much, but these two will fall more seasonably in when we come to show how humility gives quiet and rest unto the Soul.
Eleventhly: And again, Humility it is that that makes all Duties and all Afflictions to be easie, therefore this follows that I shall speak to afterwards, Learn of me and be lowly in heart, and then My Yoak is easie and my Burden is light, it is an easie thing for a man to do any thing that God sets him about if he be once humble, there is no difficulty that a man finds in the service of God but it is through pride of heart. And so there is an ease in all Afflictions in being humble, that that yeilds you know can bear opposition without any great noise, indeed the tall Cedars are broken with winds, but the poor shrubs below they do not suffer so much, but these two will fall more seasonably in when we come to shew how humility gives quiet and rest unto the Soul.
Twelfthly: Again, There is nothing that makes ⟨p. 598⟩the life of a man and woman more joyful, and more comfortable, than Humility: You think the proud have the jolly lives, and the comfortable lives, No, but the humble have most comfortableness, because it makes them to prize the least mercy. Chrysostom, upon Acts 7. hath this expression. None saith he, live so comfortably as the humble, and he gives the reason for it, Because the least thing he enjoys, he sets such a price upon the mercy, and therefore rejoiceth in it, you shall observe it, come to a poor Godly Family, and you hear nothing but blessing and praising of Gods mercy, and wondering at Gods mercy, you that have great Houses, and great Tables furnished, you are wrangling and snarling at this and the other thing, but an humble heart is praising and blessing God for his mercy and enjoy more of the mercies of Gods that they have than you do in all your abundance. If a man have his flesh swollen, he will not be able to bear it, but it will be mighty troublesome to him: So when the heart is swollen it will bring trouble to thee, but this likewise will come more fully in, when we come to speak of the Promise, I will give you rest. But now there is only one thing more for opening the excellency of this Grace, and that is, the many gracious Promises in Scripture that are made to humble hearts, as now to name a few, That God will guide the humble in their way,